Container-treating machine

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for treating containers includes treatment positions arranged on a transport element with a rotor, a transport element, treatment blocks, and functional elements. The treatment positions are formed on the treatment blocks, with at least two per block. Each treatment position ha all functional elements required for treating a container. The functional elements can be for controlled relative movement between treatment blocks and containers, for control of controlled fluid paths for a fluid treatment medium, for monitoring the treatment process, a functional element for controlling the treatment process, or for actuating elements or drives. At least one common functional element needed for treatment of the containers is provided jointly for all treatment positions assigned to one treatment block.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is the national stage entry of PCT/EP2012/002575, filed Jun. 19, 2012, which claims the benefit of the Aug. 30, 2011 priority date of German application DE 10 2011 111 483.5, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a container-treating machine.

BACKGROUND

Container-treating machines in the form of machines for cleaning and/or sterilizing containers and in the form of filling machines or filling systems for filling containers with a filling material that can flow or with a liquid filling material are known.

In the case of container-treating machines in the form of filling machines, also known in particular is using probes for controlling the particular filling process or its filling phase, during which the filling material is introduced into the containers concerned by at least one liquid valve. These probes determine the fill level.

The probes are provided on the filler elements of the filling machine and extend into the relevant container through its container opening during filling. Examples of such probes are electric fill-level probes with at least one probe contact that, when dipped into the filling material level as it rises in the container during filling, causes a probe signal that is used as a basis for closing the liquid valve or triggering such closure with a delay, so that the particular target fill-level or target fill-depth in the container is reached.

Another kind of probe for determining the fill-depth uses gas-return pipes. During the filling of the container, these pipes are arranged in a sealed position with the filler element. As the level of filling material rises, return gas is forced out of the inside of the container and removed through the pipes. When the liquid level rises enough to dip the particular gas-return pipe into the filling material, the flow of return gas halts. This provides a basis for halting the further supply of the filling material into the inside of the container at what should be the target fill-level or target fill-depth.

In all known filling systems that use a gas-return pipe, the closing of the particular filler element or of the liquid valve necessarily occurs only after an interval of a varying duration and at a specified position or angular position of the movement of the rotating transporting element. This may occur long after the target fill depth has been reached.

The foregoing approach has disadvantages.

One disadvantage is a risk that, in the time between the reaching the target fill level or the target fill depth and the closing of the liquid valve, an over-filling of the relevant container may occur due to malfunctions. These malfunctions can be caused by, for example, pressure fluctuations, sudden changes in the speed of rotation of the transporting element, and/or by shaking. Moreover, there is frequently no way to avoid having the filling material rise well into the gas-return pipe or into its gas-return channel after the gas-return pipe has dipped into the filling material level of the filling material.

Another disadvantage is the need to empty the gas-return pipe into the relevant container at the end of the actual filling phase to prevent the dripping of the filling material when the filled container has been removed from the filler element. The time needed to empty the gas-return pipe adversely affects, among other things, the performance of the filling machine or of the filling system, i.e. the number of containers that can be filled per unit of time). There is furthermore the danger of contamination from one contaminated container being transferred into subsequently filled containers.

It is also known in the art to design the probes that determine the fill depth, such as electric fill-level probes or gas-return pipe for setting the fill depth or the fill level, to be axially height-adjustable.

It is also known, based on DE 4237044, to design gas-return pipes also as electric fill-level probes by providing electric probe contacts on the inside of the pipe or inside the gas-return channel of the gas-return pipe. These contacts generate an electric probe signal after the triggering, i.e. after dipping the gas-return pipe into the filling material level and after the rise of the filling material in the gas-return channel. The probe contacts or the electric signals thus generated indicate the particular fill level inside a container.

It is also known, from DE 202013676, to provide gas-return pipes, at their lower end or in an area of the opening of their gas-return channel, with lateral recesses or openings. These recesses or openings influence the time-related course of the filling process at the end of the filling or the fill phase, this being from the time at which the filling-material level, which rises in the container as it is filled, reaches the lower edge of the gas-return pipe.

SUMMARY

As used herein, “pressure filling” means a filling method in which the container to be filled lies in a sealed position against the filler element and is pre-tensioned before the actual filling phase, i.e. before the liquid valve is opened, through at least one controlled gas path formed in the filler element, with a pressurization gas under pressure (inert gas or CO₂ gas), which is then forced out of the container's interior as a return gas as the container fills with filling material, with the return gas being forced out through at least one controlled gas path formed in the filler element. Further treatment phases can precede this pre-tensioning phase, for example the evacuation and/or the purging of the inside of the container with an inert gas, e.g. CO₂ gas etc., this being likewise being carried out through gas paths formed in the filler element.

As used herein, “pressure-free filling” means a filling method in which the container to be filled lies with its container mouth in a sealed position against the filler element, and in which the inside of the container is pre-treated before the actual filling phase, i.e. before the liquid valve is opened, through controlled gas paths formed in the filler element, for example by evacuating and/or purging with an inert gas, for example CO₂ gas, whereby, during the filling, the gas that is forced out by the filling material as it flows into the container is removed from the inside of the container as a return gas through at least one controlled gas path formed in the filler element.

As used herein, “free-jet filling” means a process in which the liquid filling material flows into the container to be filled in a free filling jet, wherein the container mouth or opening of the container does not lie against the filler element, but is at a distance from the filler element or from a filling material outlet. A substantial feature of this process is also that the air forced out of the container during the filling process by the liquid filling material does not get into the filler element or into an area or channel formed therein that conveys gas. Instead, it flows freely out into the environment.

As used herein, “TRINOX™ tube” means a tube-shaped probe extending into the containers during filling, the probe being used in the so-called TRINOX™ method. In this method, there is first a slight over-filling of the particular container under filling pressure. This is followed by a fill-depth correction phase to remove the overfilled filling material. During this fill-depth correction phase, a sterile inert gas, for example CO₂, at a pressure lying above the filling pressure or the pressure prevailing in the filling material tank, is released into a headspace of the container. The pressure of this inert gas forces filling material through the probe or its probe channel back into the filling material tank until the probe opening is outside the filling material, thus causing the target fill-depth to be reached.

As used herein, “container in a sealed position with the filler element” means that the container to be filled is tightly pressed with its container mouth against the filler element or on a seal associate with the filler element so that it surrounds a discharge opening of the filler element.

As used herein, “containers” include cans and bottles made of metal, glass and/or plastic, as well as other packaging configurations that are suitable for filling with liquid or viscous products using either pressure filling or pressure-free filling.

As used herein, the “headspace” of the containers is the part of the interior of a container underneath the container opening, that is not taken up by the filling material after filling.

As used herein, the expression “substantially” means deviations from exact values in each case by +/−10%, and preferably by +/−5% and/or deviations in the form of changes not significant for functioning.

As used herein, the term “container-treating machines” includes filling machines for filling containers with a liquid filling material, as well as other machines for treating containers, in particular machines for cleaning containers, for example rinsing machines, and/or machines for sterilizing containers, in particular also those in which the sterilization of containers occurs by their treatment with a medium in the form of a gas and/or vapor containing a sterilization agent, for example a medium in the form of a gas and/or a vapor containing H₂O₂.

To carry out the particular treatment, different functional elements are needed at the treatment positions, these functional elements being adapted to the type of treatment, in particular functional elements with which a relative movement needed for the treatment is made between the particular container and a treatment block for the supply and/or removal of treatment media into and out of the containers, functional elements for controlling the supply and/or removal of the treatment media, functional elements in the form of sensors and/or measuring systems for controlling and/or monitoring the particular treatment, in particular also the quantity of the treatment medium supplied and/or removed, for example also pressure sensors for measuring and/or monitoring the internal pressure of the containers during the treatment, and functional elements in the form of probes extending into the containers during the filling, determining the fill depth or the fill level, such as electric fill-level probes and/or pipe-shaped probes, such as gas-return pipes or TRINOX™ tubes, that can also be used for the introduction of an inert gas (e.g. CO₂ gas) into the headspace of the particular filled container, this being to force oxygen out of this headspace by the controlled foaming of the filling material.

As used herein, the term “probes determining the fill depth” includes particular electric fill-level probes with at least one electric probe contact and/or pipe-shaped probes, such as gas-return pipes or TRINOX™ tubes, and/or pipe-shaped probes, such as gas-return pipes or TRINOX™ tubes, with at least one electric probe contact.

The term “treatment media” includes, for example, the filling material introduced into the containers during filling and/or media in liquid form and/or gas form and/or vapor form, that are introduced into the containers during the filling, cleaning and/or sterilization and/or that are removed from the containers, in particular media used for pre-treatment during filling, return gas forced out or removed from the containers during filling or pressure release, cleaning and/or sterilization media.

With a multiplicity of treatment positions on the particular rotating transporting element, for example on the rotating rotor, of a treating machine, this has hitherto meant a high structural and control input, as all the functional elements required for the treatment are provided and controlled separately for each treatment position.

The purpose of the invention is to disclose a container-treating machine that allows a substantial reduction in the structural, assembly, and control input without adversely affecting the quality of the treatment. To resolve this task, a container-treating machine as described herein is provided.

In the invention, in each case, at least two treatment positions are made on, in each case, one treatment block, that is then mounted, preferably prefabricated, as a complete and fully functional module on the transporting element, for example, on the rotor of the treating machine and, if necessary, for example in the event of a defect, that can be replaced as a complete module. This too contributes decisively to a reduction in the production cost in the manufacture of the particular treating machine.

Further developments, benefits and application possibilities of the invention arise also from the following description of examples of embodiments and from the figures. In this regard, all characteristics described and/or illustrated individually or in any combination are categorically the subject of the invention, regardless of their inclusion in the claims or reference to them. The content of the claims is also an integral part of the description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in more detail below by means of the figures using an example of an embodiment. The following are shown:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a view from above a container-treating machine of a rotating design in the form of a filling machine with a multiplicity of treatment points or positions that are provided on the circumference of a rotor that can be driven around a machine axis;

FIG. 2 is a perspective partial representation showing the rotor of the container-treating machine in FIG. 1 with a multiplicity of treatment blocks provided on the circumference of the rotor and forming, in each case, two treatment positions, together with associated container carriers and containers arranged on them;

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic representation, one of the treatment blocks of the container-treating machine in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic representations of a treatment block of a treating machine according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a simplified representation of two pneumatically actuated control valves or gas cylinders of the treatment blocks combined to form a control valve arrangement;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are simplified cross-section representations of the lower end of a probe for determining the fill depth of the filling material in the particular container in section and as seen from below; and

FIG. 9 is a time chart showing the opening and closing of the liquid valve of the filler elements of the container-treating machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A container-treating machine 1 is made as a filling machine and serves to fill containers 2, for example in the form of bottles, with a liquid filling material. The container-treating machine 1 is furthermore made as a machine of a rotary design, this being with a rotor 3 that can be driven around a vertical machine axis in the direction of the arrow A, and on the circumference of which treatment positions 4 a and 4 b is made in the form of filling points. These filling points are distributed at regular angular distances and spacings around the vertical machine axis and at the same radial distance from the machine axis and on the same level, this being such that in the direction of rotation of the rotor A in each case a treatment position 4 b follows each treatment position 4 a and a treatment position 4 a follows each treatment position 4 b.

On the periphery of the rotor 3 or an annular rotor element 3.1 concentrically enclosing the vertical machine axis M and rotating with the rotor 3, treatment blocks 5 are distributed at regular angular intervals and spacings around the vertical machine axis, at the same radial distance from the machine axis, and on the same level as each other. The treatment blocks 5 follow immediately or basically immediately after each other and in each case form a first treatment position 4 a and a second treatment position 4 b. The treatment blocks 5 are fully functionally pre-assembled modules that, in the fabrication of the treating machine 1, can be rotated on the rotor 3 and, in the event of any defect, can also be replaced fairly quickly.

On the rotor 3, a container carrier 6 common to the two treatment positions 4 a and 4 b with a joint lifting element 7 (i.e., a pressure cylinder) is assigned to each treatment block 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the container carrier 6 is formed as a rectangular container-carrying plate that is oriented with its longer sides tangential to the circular rotary path of the rotor 3 and on which the containers 2, with their axes oriented vertically, are arranged to be standing on their container bases.

Each container carrier 6 can be moved upwards by its lifting element 7 synchronously with the rotational movement of the rotor 3 and controlled by a cam follower 7.1 that interacts with at least one control cam, not illustrated, in a vertical direction corresponding to the double arrow B. Each container carrier 6 can also be moved downwards against the action of the lifting element 7.

Each treatment block 5 has two centering bells 8 to hold and center the containers 2 in the area of their container openings 2.1. Of these centering bells 8, which are likewise distributed at regular angular distances and spacings around the vertical machine axis, one centering bell 8 is assigned to the first treatment position 4 a and one centering bell 8 is assigned to the second treatment position 4 b. In the illustrated embodiment, the centering bells 8 arranged underneath the treatment blocks 5 are, in each case, held on the lower ends of two guide rods 9. The guide rods 9 are oriented in their longitudinal extension parallel to the machine axis. The top ends project over the treatment blocks 5 and are provided with cam followers 10, that interact with at least one control cam, not illustrated, for controlled lifting and lowering (double arrow C) synchronously with the rotary movement of the rotor 3. The guide rods 9 for the two centering bells 8 assigned to one treatment block 5 are guided on this or on, for example, a multi-part housing 11 of the treatment block 5, namely the two guide rods 9 for the centering bell 8 assigned to the first treatment position 4 a on the rear side of the housing 11 in relation to the direction of rotation of the rotor A, and the guide rods 9 of the centering bell 8 assigned to the second treatment position 4 b on the front side of the housing 11 in relation to the direction of rotation of the rotor A.

In an alternative embodiment, the two centering bells can also be arranged in a common holding frame. The upward and downward movement required to center the bottles occurs, in this case, for both centering bells, as a result of a common movement roller.

With this kind of double bottle pressing, in the event of different heights (tolerances) of the two bottles, only the bigger bottle could be brought into a defined pressing and sealed position. As a result, flexible compensation elements, such as, for example, springs or rubber cushions, would need to be arranged in the bottle plate or inside the centering bell.

The empty containers 2 are transferred onto the container carrier, which is lowered into its lower position, on a container inlet 1.1 of the treating machine 1. The filled containers 2 are removed from the container carrier 6 lowered into its lower position on a container outlet 1.2 of the treating machine 1. In order to ensure a secure transfer of the containers 2 and, above all, to reliably avoid the tipping of the containers 2, the centering bells 8 of each treatment block 5 are independent, and furthermore, independently controlled functional elements.

According to the design of the treating machine 1 as a filling machine, in a particular treatment block 5 or in its housing 11, two liquid channels 12 are provided. These channels open on the underside of the treatment block 5 on a filling material outlet opening 13 (i.e., an annular gap). During the actual filling phase, the filling material uses these channels to flow to the particular container 2 through its container opening 2.1.

During pressure-filling, the two containers 2 lifted by the particular container carrier 6 lie, at least during the filling phase, with their container mouth 2.1 over the particular centering bell 8 and seals provided there in a sealed position against an area of the particular handling block 5 surrounding the filling material outlet opening 13.

During free-jet filling, the containers are positioned with their container opening 2.1 at a distance from the treatment block 5.

In each liquid channel 12, a separate and independently controllable liquid valve 14 is provided. This valve 14 is opened at the start of the filling phase and closed at the end of the filling phase.

On the rotor 3, an annular tank 15 is provided. During the filling operation, the annular tank 15 is at least partially filled with the filling material, this being with the formation of an upper gas space and a lower liquid space occupied by the filling material. The liquid channels 12 of all the treatment blocks 5 are connected to the liquid space of the tank 15.

In the illustrated embodiment 30, the filling of the containers 2 occurs under fill-depth control. This is implemented by having the filling be triggered by the probe signal of a probe 16 independently assigned to each treatment position 4 a and 4 b. The probe can be an electric fill-level probe with one probe end having a probe contact. Alternatively, the probe can be pipe-shaped probe with one probe end having a pipe opening that extends through the container opening 2.1 into the inside of the container 2.

The probes 16 can be moved axially, in an axial direction parallel to the machine axis, as indicated by the double arrow D. This enables the probes 16 to, for example, change and/or to adapt the particular fill-depth, in particular to adapt the fill depth to different containers 2, and/or to insert the particular probe 16 at the start of the filling phase from a starting position, in which the particular probe is held completely or substantially completely in the treatment block 5 or its housing 11, and to return the probe 16 to the starting position after the end of the filling phase.

In the illustrated embodiment, this movement of the two probes 16 of each treatment block 5 is made possible by a common actuating drive 17, for example in the form of a pneumatic cylinder. In greater detail, the two probes 16 of each treatment block 5 are connected to the particular actuating drive 17 by a rod 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive is attached to the top of the housing 11 of the particular treatment block 5 by a bow-shaped holder 19. As a result, the actuating drive 17 is clearly above the treatment block 5 and also above the movement path of the cam followers 10.

In the particular treatment block 5, or in the housing 11 thereof, at least one controlled gas path 20 with at least one control valve 21 is formed. These are used in connection with the pre-treatment of the containers 2 before the filling phase. Examples of such pre-treatment include emptying and/or purging the interior of the containers 2, which lie with their container mouths 2.1 in a sealed position against the treatment block 5, with an inert gas, and/or returning a medium in the form of a gas or vapor (return gas) forced out of the container interior by the incoming filling material during the filling phase, and/or controlled pressure release of the headspace of the filled containers 2 not occupied by the filling material etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, the gas path 20 and the control valve 21 for both treatment positions 4 a and 4 b of each treatment block 5 are provided only once on a block, this being, in the illustrated embodiment, on the radially outer side of the treatment block 5 in relation to the vertical machine axis. In a practical embodiment of the treating machine 1, each treatment block 5 has two or more gas paths 20 with control valves 21. These gas paths and control valves are jointly provided in turn for the two treatment positions 4 a and 4 b of each treatment block 5.

The electronics 22 required to process the probe signals from the probes 16 and/or for controlling the liquid valves 14 or their actuation elements and/or for controlling the actuating drive 17 and/or the control valves 21 are also provided jointly for the first and second treatment positions 4 a and 4 b of each treatment block 5. As a result, the electronics 22 is easily accessible on the radially outer side of the treatment block 5 in relation to the machine axis.

It has been assumed thus far that, for the first and second treatment positions 4 a and 4 b of each treatment block 5, with the exception of the liquid valves 14 and the functional elements effecting the controlled rising and lowering of the centering bells 8, namely the guide rod 9, cam followers 10 and the probes 16, all other functional elements, namely the particular container carrier 6, the controlled gas path 20, the actuating drive 17 for the probe movement, and the control electronics 22 for the two treatment positions 4 a and 4 b, are, in each case, provided jointly in the treatment block 5. There is, however, also the possibility of combining the centering bells 8 or other elements on the first and second treatment positions 4 a and 4 b effecting the centering and/or an additional halt for the containers 2 to form one functional unit.

It has also been assumed thus far that in the first and second treatment positions 4 a and 4 b of each treatment block 5, a common container carrier 6 is assigned and that this carrier 6 can be raised and lowered by a cam follower 7.1. However, in some embodiments, treatment position 4 a and 4 b of each treatment block 5 has its own container carrier and that this containter carrier, jointly, with the other container carrier of the same treatment block, or independently of the other container carrier of the same treatment block, can be moved upward and downward in a controlled manner, for example once again by a cam follower 7.1.

It has also been assume thus far that in the design of the container-treating machine 1, the fill depth of the filling material in a particular filled container 2 is determined by the probe 16. However, in some embodiments, flow meters, in particular magnetically inductive flow meters (MID), can be used either alone or in conjunction with a probe and that these flow meters can be used to determin the filling material quantity flowing to the particular container 2 during the filling. This information is captured and supplied as a measuring signal that controls the liquid valves 14. In this regard, then an independent flow meter 23, indicated schematically in FIG. 3 is provided to each treatment position 4 a and 4 b in the liquid channel of that treatment position.

In the illustrated embodiment, in those cases in which the containter-treating machine 1 is a filling machine for filling containers 2 under pressure, each treatment block 5 has at least one pressure sensor 24. This pressure sensor 24 captures or monitors the pressure in the two containers 2 during the filling to enable monitoring and/or controlling the filling process.

With the previously described design of the treatment blocks 5, different controls of the individual functional elements are possible. These controls are summarized again in the table below.

For a controlled relative movement between the containers 2 and the treatment blocks 5, if appropriately designed, a control of the lifting elements 7 in each case individually or jointly is possible. Such control is available whether the probe 16 is a gas-return pipe or a TRINOX™ tube, or whether the probe 16 is an electric fill-level probe or a flow meter 23.

To set the fill depth in the containers 2, a corresponding setting of the probes 16 is possible in each case individually or jointly. This is possible regardless of whether the probe 16 is designed as a gas-return pipe and/or TRINOX™ tube or as an electric fill-level probe, as a flow meter 23.

The height adjustment of the centering bells 8 is possible individually or jointly regardless of the design of the probes 16 determining the fill depth and regardless of the presence or absence of the flow meters 23.

The closing of the liquid valves 14 and the actuation of the actuation elements for these valves is possible individually or jointly regardless of the design of the probes 16 and regardless of the presence or absence of the flow meters 23, where the probes are made as gas-return pipes or TRINOX™ tubes. A joint closing of the liquid valves is not possible where, to determine the fill depth, the probes 16 are designed as electric fill-level probes or where flow meters 23 are used.

The opening of the liquid valves 14 or the actuation of these valves or their actuation elements 14.1 are possible individually or jointly regardless of the design of the probes 16 and regardless of the presence or absence of the flow meters 23. The purging of the containers 2, for example by means of the probes 16 used as a purging pipe and designed as a length of pipe, subject to controlled movement, e.g. with the controlled raising of the purging pipes or probes 16, is possible individually or however jointly regardless of the design of the probes 16 and regardless of the presence or absence of the flow meters 23.

The pressure monitoring of the filling process by means of the pressure sensor 24 is possible individually regardless of the design of the probe 16 and regardless of the presence or absence of the flow meters 23, whereby each filling position 4 a and 4 b is then assigned its own pressure sensor 24. The height adjustment of the centering bells 24 is possible individually or jointly regardless of the design of the probes 16 determining the fill depth and regardless of the presence or absence of the flow meters 23. In the latter case, however, the control valves 21 and also the liquid valve 14 of both treatment positions 4 a and 4 b have to be controlled together. The common pressure sensor 24 is then connected to the gas space of both containers 2 arranged in a sealed position with the treatment block 5. With the particular pressure sensor 24, even with the joint pressure sensor 24 for both treatment positions 4 a and 4 b, the bursting of a container 2 can for example be monitored during pressure-filling.

The control valves 21 are preferably pneumatic valves. Likewise, the actuation element 14.1 for the particular liquid valve 14 is preferably a pneumatic actuation element that can then, like the control valves 21, generally be qualified as gas cylinders.

Fill-depth determination Fill-depth by gas-return determina- pipe or tion by Implementing Type of TRINOX ™ probe or Function element actuation tube MID 23 Comments Controlled Lifting Indi- Possible Possible relative element 7 vidual movement Joint Possible Possible between treatment blocks 5 and containers 2 Setting of Probe 16 as Indi- Possible No the fill a gas-return vidual depth by pipe or Joint Possible No height TRINOX ™ adjustment tube Probe 16 as Indi- No Possible an electric vidual fill-level Joint No Possible probe MID 23 No No MID 23 is not height- adjusted Fill-depth determination by Fill-depth gas-return determina- pipe or tion by Implementing Type of Trinox probe or Function element actuation tube MID 23 Comments Height- Centering Indi- Possible Possible adjustment bells 8 vidual of the Joint Possible Possible centering bells 8 Closing of Liquid valve Indi- Possible Possible the liquid 14 or its vidual valves 14 actuation Joint Possible No elements Opening of Liquid Indi- Possible Possible the liquid valve 14 or vidual valves 14 its Joint Possible Possible actuation elements Optimized Probe 16 as Indi- Possible Possible purging of the a purging vidual containers pipe Joint Possible Possible by controlled raising of the purging pipe Pressure By pressure Indi- Possible Possible monitoring sensor 24 vidual of the Joint Possible Possible filling process

FIG. 4 shows, in a schematic representation, a treatment block 5 a that differs from the treatment block 5 basically only in that the particular liquid valves 14 are provided on the underside of the annular tank 15 common to all the treatment blocks 5 a. The elements that correspond, at least in terms of their function, to the elements in FIGS. 1-3, are labeled in FIG. 4 in each case with the same reference numbers as in FIGS. 1-3.

Shown in FIG. 4 are two pneumatically actuated control valves 21 (gas cylinders) common to the two container-treatment positions 4 a and 4 b for controlling the gas paths 20 formed in the treatment block 5 a, in particular also for the controlled connection of the gas spaces of the containers 2 arranged in a sealed position with the treatment block 5 a, to an outer annular channel 25 common to all the treatment blocks 5 a and their treatment positions 4 a and 4 b, with the outer annular channel 25 being formed in the rotor 3 of the treating machine. The figure also shows the two actuation elements 14.1, which in this case are pneumatic or in the form of gas cylinders, of the liquid valves 14 and a multiplicity of electric pneumatic valves 26 that pneumatically control the control valves 21 and also the actuation elements 14.4 using pneumatic control lines 27.

FIG. 5 shows, in a representation similar to that shown FIG. 4, a further embodiment of a treatment block 5 b that is one of a multiplicity of treatment blocks of the same kind on the periphery of a rotor of a container-treating machine 1 in the form of a filling machine. The treatment block 5 b differs from the treatment block 5 a basically only by its higher number of control valves 21, which corresponds to a higher number of controlled gas paths, and also by the fact that the control valves 21 are assigned in each case separately to each treatment position 4 a or 4 b. Each control valve 21 of a treatment position 4 a or 4 b is connected by a pneumatic control line 27 to an electrically actuated pneumatic valve 26, to which the corresponding control valve 21 of the other treatment position 4 b or 4 a is connected by the control line 27. The control valves 21 of the two treatment positions 4 a and 4 b assigned to each other are thus actuated jointly or by time. In the same way, the two liquid valves 14 and their actuation elements 14.1 are also connected to a common pneumatic valve 26 by means of control lines so that they can be opened together for the start of the filling or the filling phase, while the end of the filling or of the filling phase occurs individually in each case. In FIG. 5, a line 28 supplies the pressure medium (for example sterile compressed air) needed to control the control valves 21 and the actuation elements 14.1.

FIG. 6 shows, again in a magnified representation and in detail, two control valves 21 that are combined to form one combined control valve 21.1. A substantial component of each control valve 21 is a membrane-like valve body 29 that operates between a valve inlet 30 arranged in the gas path 20 and a valve outlet 31 likewise arranged in the gas path 20, that closes the valve inlet 30 in the representation in FIG. 6 and that is held in this situation by the piston 32 of a pneumatic piston-cylinder arrangement, provided that the associated cylinder space 33 is impacted with the pressure of the pneumatic control medium (compressed air). Each cylinder space 33 is connected to the associated pneumatic valve by a control line 27.

FIG. 7 shows, in a simplified partial representation and in cross-section, the lower end of a probe 16 in its design as a combined electric fill-level probe and pipe-shaped probe or gas-return pipe and/or TRINOX™ tube.

With the embodiment of the container-treating machine 1 and its treatment blocks 5, 5 a and 5 b according to the invention, a hitherto unprecedented multiplicity of process variants are possible that can then be made, selected, and controlled, for example, by software held in a control computer of the treating machine 1. Depending on the requirements of the treatment needed in each case, or the container/treatment medium, or filling material, an optimally adapted treatment can be selected. The following treatment or process steps are possible:

-   1. Retraction and extension of probe 16, in particular in its     embodiment as a gas-return pipe; -   2. Automatic fill-height adjustment by height adjustment of the     probe 16 by means of the actuating drive 17; -   3. Evacuation of the inside of the container 2 arranged in each case     in a sealed position on a treatment position 4 a or 4 b and in inert     gas purging of this inside by means of the central probe, made as a     length of pipe, extending deep into the container 2; -   4. Evacuation of the inside of the container 2 and absolutely dry     inert gas purging by means of the filling material dispensing     opening 13; -   5. Purging of the containers 2, in particular those made of plastic,     with CO₂ gas at a pressure level lying slightly above the ambient     pressure for low-oxygen filling; -   6. Dry pre-tensioning of the container 2, arranged in each case in a     sealed position on the treatment position 4 a or 4 b by means of the     annular gap or the filling material dispensing opening 13; -   7. Pre-tensioning of the inside of the container by means of the     probe 16 made as a gas-return pipe or by means of the filling     material dispensing opening 13 or the annular gap formed by the     opening 13; -   8. Fast filling with gas return using the annular gap or the filling     material dispensing opening 13 with a large cross-section and     possibly also additionally using the probe 16, when the probe has as     a gas-return pipe; -   9. Slow filling with gas return using the probe 16 formed as a     gas-return pipe and a throttled gas path; -   10. Switching between fast and slow filling by time control; -   11. Switching between fast and slow filling by one of the probe     contacts 37; -   12. Determination of the fill depth solely by the probe 16 formed as     a gas-return pipe or by the principle of gas-return pipe/gas     barrier, wherein this principle also functions where the electric     fill-level probe fails; -   13. Determination of the fill depth purely by means of the probe     contact 37 and by closing the associated liquid valve 14 by the     electric probe signal; -   14. Determination of the fill depth by the probe 16 formed as a     gas-return pipe or by the principle of gas-return pipe/gas barrier     in combination with the probe signal of the probe contact 37; -   15. Subsequent purging of the headspace of the filled container with     inert gas by means of a probe made as a length of pipe; -   16. Settling and pressure-release of the filled container 2 to a     slight pressure above atmospheric in a pressure-release channel, for     example annular channel 25; -   17. Settling of a filling pressure level with direct pressure     release to ambient pressure in a pressure-release channel, for     example in annular channel 25; -   18. Filling process without evacuation of the containers, but with     inert gas purging of the containers with absolutely dry     pre-tensioning-separation of pre-tensioning and gas-return path     (filling material dispensing opening 13 and central length of pipe     formed by the probe 16); -   19. Optionally pressure-filling or pressure-free filling; -   20. Detection of an unfilled container 2 by making the probe 16 as a     gas-return pipe or electric fill-level probe; -   21. Multiple control or simultaneous tripping of in each case     functional elements corresponding to each other, of one and the same     treatment block 5, 5 a, 5 b without adversely affecting the quality     of the treatment or of the filling process.

The FIGS. 7 and 8 show a probe 16 a that is made as an electric fill-level probe and as a gas-return pipe, and that can be used instead of the probe 16. The probe 16 a includes a length of pipe 34 arranged on the same axis as filler element FA and acting as a gas-return pipe. This length of pipe forms a gas-return channel 35 and, during filling, extends by its lower end or by the lower opening 35.1 of the gas-return channel 35 into the upper area (headspace) of the container 2 arranged on the relevant filling position 4 a or 4 b. During the filling phase, the medium, in gas and/or vapor form, forced by the incoming filling material out of the inside of the container (e.g. air and/or inert gas or CO₂ gas from a preceding purging and/or pre-tensioning phase) is removed by means of the gas-return channel 35 and the controlled gas paths 20.

In methods or filling systems for filling containers 2 using conventional gas-return pipes as probes that determine the fill depth, the supply of the filling materials into the particular container ends when the lower end of the gas-return pipe 17 is immersed sufficiently deeply into the filling material level as it rises in the inside of the container during filling so that a further forcing of the return gas out of the headspace of container 2, the headspace not being occupied by the filling material, is no longer possible by means of the gas-return channel 35 and thus also the supply of the filling material into the relevant container 2 is necessarily ended (gas-return pipe/gas barrier principle). Only at a later time, i.e. at a specified angular position of the rotary movement of the rotor 3, does the forced closure of the liquid valve 14 then occur. As explained earlier, this known approach has substantial disadvantages.

To avoid this, the probe 16 a or its length of pipe 34, is additionally made as an electric fill-level probe with a probe contact 37, this being outside the gas-return channel 35 on a separate lance-type or fishplate-type section 36 of the length of pipe 34 by means of the lower open end 35.1 of the gas-return channel 35 downwards in the direction of the filler element axis FA, i.e. in the direction of the container carrier 6.

In the illustrated embodiment, the section 36 has, in the circumferential direction of length of pipe 34, a width that is smaller than the circumference of length of pipe 34 at its lower end. Furthermore, the section 36 in the illustrated embodiment is partially formed by a lance-type or fishplate-type continuation 38 of the wall of the length of pipe 34 that is made of an electrically conductive material, preferably of a metallic material. The probe contact 37, which in the illustrated embodiment is exposed at the lower free end of the section 36 at level N2, is formed, for example, by the lower end of a conductor path 39 made of an electrically conductive material, which is electrically insulated from the length of pipe 34 outside the probe contact 3 and also covered on the outside by insulation layers 40.

It is understood that the length of pipe 34 in the area of the probe contact 37 can also be made differently from the way described above, and it is thus also possible, for example, for the section 36 projecting over the lower open end 35.1 to be formed exclusively by the conductive path 39 and possibly by the insulation layers 40. Common to all embodiments, however, is the fact that the probe contact 37 is at the level N2 and thus in the direction of the filler element axis FA at a distance below the open end 35.1 of the pipe 34.

FIG. 9 shows, in a time chart, the opening and closing of the particular liquid valve 14 at the start and end of this filling phase when using the probe 16 a. In FIG. 9, the open state of the liquid valve 14 is labeled with “I” and the closed state with “0”.

The way in which the container-treating machine 1 made as a filling machine works can be described as follows where the probe 16 a is used for example:

The containers 2 to be filled are again supplied by means of an external transporter and, in each case, reach a filling position 4 a or 4 b individually by means of a container inlet 1.1. The filled containers 2 are removed from the filling positions on a container outlet 1.2. At the angular area of the rotary movement of the rotor 3, between the container inlet 1.1 and the container outlet 1.2, a pre-treatment of the containers 2 occurs by the purging and/or pre-tensioning of the inside of the particular container 2 with an inert gas, preferably with CO₂ gas while the container 2 is arranged in a sealed position against the particular treatment block 5, 5 a or 5 b. Then, in the actual filling phase, the containers 2 are filled with the filling material.

The filling phase is in each case started at time t1 (FIG. 9) or when the relevant filling position 4 a or 4 b or one of these two filling positions of a treatment block 5, 5 a or 5 b has reached the angular position W1 (FIG. 1). Filling occurs by opening the liquid valve 14. Once the filling material level of the filling material inside the container during filling rises to the level N2 and the probe contact 37 trips, which for example is the case at the angular position W2 (FIG. 1) or at time t2 (FIG. 9), a timer function is activated which, after a time delay Δt, effects a closing of the liquid valve 14 at time t3 (FIG. 9). The time delay Δt is set so that the filling material level in the container 2 is at the target level N1 after the closing of the liquid valve 14.

While the angular position W1 at which the filling phase is started by opening the particular liquid valve 14, is fixed for example, the angular positions W2 and W3 are dependent inter alia on the speed of rotation of the rotor 3. The time delay at is independent of the speed of rotor 3. This is calculated for example from the previous fill cycles and/or attempts and is, for example, saved and retrievable as a process parameter typical for the particular kind of filling material and the particular type and/or size of the containers 2, in a computer which controls the container-treating machine 1.

The design of the probe 16 a avoids not only the aforesaid disadvantages of conventional gas-return pipes, but guarantees, with a simplified mechanical structure and reduced fabrication and/or assembly costs, also an increased operating reliability. This is because in the event of any failure of the at least one probe contact 37 and/or the associated electronics in any case, the length of pipe 34 acts as a gas-return pipe and also as the element restricting the fill depth. The pipe 34 restricts fill depth because after immersing the length of pipe 34 into the filling material level of the filling material rising inside the container, a further supply of filling material into the relevant container is automatically halted.

The length of pipe 34 also preferably has further functions too, for example a pre-treatment of the containers 2 in at least one pre-treatment phase preceding the actual filling phase. Thus, the length of pipe 34 serves, for example, for purging and/or pre-tensioning the inside of the container with an inert gas, e.g. CO₂ gas etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lower open end 35.1 of the length of pipe 34 is provided with at least one lateral recess 41. This allows it, after the end of the filling phase, i.e. after the closing of the liquid valve 14, to purge the headspace of the particular filled container 2 not occupied by the filling material with an inert gas, and this despite a short axial length of the section 36 in relation to the filler element axis FA, and despite the situation whereby the target level N1 is slightly above the level of the open end 35.1.

It is also possible to provide a multiplicity of probe contacts 37, this being once again preferably such that at least one probe contact 37 is at a distance below the open end 35.1 of the gas-return channel 35. With at least two probe contacts 37 that are spaced apart from each other at least in the direction of the filler element axis FA, there arises the possibility, at the tripping of the probe contact 37 that is at the greatest axial distance from the open end 35.1, that the relevant filling position 4 a or 4 b is tripped from a “fast filling” mode to a “slow filling” mode and only upon tripping the other probe contact 37 is the timer function for the time-delayed closing of the associated liquid valve 14 activated.

Moreover, it is also possible to start the closing of the particular liquid valve 14 without delay, if the corresponding probe contact 37 trips.

The invention was described above using an example of an embodiment. It is clear that numerous modifications and variations are possible without thereby departing from the inventive idea underlying the invention.

Above it was furthermore assumed that the container-treating machine 1 is a filling machine. The invention also includes other container-treating machines, for example machines of a rotating design for the cleaning and/or sterilization of the containers 2, for example in the form of rinsers and/or sterilizers, in which the containers, in particular their insides, are exposed to at least one cleaning and/or sterilization medium in the form of a liquid and/or gas and/or vapor.

Especially with a design of the container-treating machine 1 for cleaning and/or sterilizing the containers 2, there is the possibility of providing all the functional elements of the, in each case, at least two container-treatment stations 4 a and 4 b combined to form a group or a treatment block 5 just once jointly for all the treatment positions of each treatment block 5, wherein the functional elements are, in particular, the functional elements for the positioning and/or centering and/or moving of the containers and the functional elements for the control of liquid and/or gas and/or vapor paths and also the functional elements for monitoring and/or controlling the particular treatment process, such as sensors or measuring elements or measuring systems and/or their actuating drives. Of course, instead of using the fill-depth probes illustrated, it is possible to capture the fill quantity or depth in the multiple filling point by means of at least one separate MID assigned to one of the two bottles, one gas-return pipe or another measuring system.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

-   -   1 Container-treating machine     -   1.1 Container inlet     -   1.2 Container outlet     -   2 Container     -   2.1 Container mouth     -   3 Rotor     -   3.1 Annular rotor element     -   4 a, 4 b Treatment position     -   5, 5 a, 5 b Treatment block     -   6 Container carrier     -   7 Lifting element     -   7.1 Cam follower     -   8 Centring bell     -   9 Guide rod     -   10 Cam follower     -   11 Housing     -   12 Liquid channel     -   13 Filling material dispensing opening     -   14 Liquid valve     -   14.1 Actuation element     -   15 Annular tank     -   16, 16 a Probe     -   17 Actuating drive     -   18 Rod system     -   19 Carrier     -   20 Gas path     -   21 Control valve     -   21.1 Multiple control valve     -   22 Electronics     -   23 Flow meter (MID)     -   24 Pressure sensor     -   25 Annular channel     -   26 Pneumatic valve     -   27 Pneumatic control line     -   28 Pressure line     -   29 Membrane or valve body     -   30 Inlet     -   31 Outlet     -   32 Piston     -   33 Cylinder space     -   34 Length of pipe     -   35 Gas channel     -   35.1 Open end of the gas channel 35     -   36 Fishplate-type section     -   37 Probe contact     -   38 Section     -   39 Conductor path     -   40 Insulation layer     -   41 Recess     -   A Direction of rotation of rotor     -   B Controlled upward and downward movement of the container         carriers 6     -   C Controlled upward and downward movement of the centering bells         8     -   D Adjustment movement of the probes 16 or 16 a     -   N1, N2 Filling material level 

1-18. (canceled)
 19. An apparatus for treating containers, said apparatus comprising treatment positions, a transport element, treatment blocks, and functional elements, wherein each of said treatment positions is configured to treat a container arranged at said treatment position, wherein said treatment positions are provided on said transport element, wherein said treatment positions are formed on said treatment blocks, wherein at least two treatment positions are formed on each treatment block, wherein said transport element comprises a rotor, wherein each treatment position comprises all functional elements required for treating a container, wherein said functional elements comprise functional elements selected from the group consisting of a functional element for controlled relative movement between said treatment blocks and said containers, a functional element for control of controlled fluid paths for a fluid treatment medium, wherein said fluid treatment medium is selected from the group consisting of liquid, gas, and vapor, and wherein said fluid paths are paths for a fluid selected from the group consisting of liquid, gas, and vapor, a functional element for monitoring said treatment process, a functional element for controlling said treatment process, actuating elements, and actuating drives, wherein at least one common functional element needed for treatment of said containers is provided jointly for all treatment positions assigned to one treatment block.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein all treatment positions of each treatment block and said at least one common functional element are provided and/or form a common assembly.
 21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising functional elements for controlled relative movement between said treatment blocks and said containers, wherein said functional elements can be controlled jointly.
 22. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising functional elements for controlled relative movement between said treatment blocks and said containers, wherein said functional elements are can be controlled separately.
 23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said functional elements are formed by container carriers having a lifting element for treatment positions of each treatment block.
 24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein structures are provided jointly for all treatment positions of each treatment block, wherein said structures are selected from the group consisting of a fluid channel formed in a particular treatment block or in a housing thereof, and a control valve arranged in a fluid channel formed in a particular treatment block or in a housing thereof.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein all of said structures are provided jointly for all treatment positions of each treatment block.
 26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein structures are provided jointly for all said treatment positions of each treatment block, wherein said structures are selected from the group consisting of a sensor element for monitoring and/or controlling treatment of said containers, and an actuating drive of a sensor element for monitoring and/or controlling said treatment of said containers.
 27. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising filling elements at each treatment position for filling containers with liquid filling material.
 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein each treatment position comprises a centering bell for centering containers, wherein said centering bells can be moved up and down individually or jointly along a direction parallel to a filling element axis.
 29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said controlled fluid paths formed in said treatment block are provided jointly for all treatment positions of each treatment block.
 30. The apparatus claim 27, wherein said controlled fluid paths formed in said treatment block are provided separately in each case and preferably can be controlled jointly for said treatment positions of each treatment block.
 31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said measuring system comprises an axially adjustable probe that determines a fill depth of filling material in a particular container, and one of a joint adjustment element a joint actuating drive that comprises a piston-cylinder arrangement for all probes of all treatment positions of each treatment block.
 32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein each treatment block forms a filling point comprising a liquid channel, a liquid valve on said liquid channel, a filling-material dispensing opening, and a measuring system for determining at least one of a fill depth and a fill volume of filling material in a container, wherein said measuring system comprises one of a probe and a flow meter, provided separately for each treatment position.
 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said probe comprises a gas-return pipe and an electric probe contact, where said gas-return pipe comprises a length of pipe that forms a gas-return channel, and wherein said electric probe contact is arranged outside said gas return channel and at a distance from an open lower end of said gas return channel.
 34. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said functional elements comprise a source of sterilizing medium, and a cleaning element receiving sterilizing medium from said source of sterilizing medium, wherein said cleaning element is selected from the group consisting of a rinser and a container sterilizer, and wherein said sterilizing medium contains hydrogen peroxide, and wherein all of said functional elements needed for said treatment by cleaning are provided jointly for all of said treatment positions of said particular treatment block.
 35. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said functional elements comprise centering bells at each treatment position for said containers, wherein each of said centering bells is movable synchronously with movement of said transport element.
 36. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a pressure sensing system for treatment of containers under pressure, wherein said pressure sensing system comprises a common pressure sensor for all treatment positions of each treatment block.
 37. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a pressure sensing system for treatment of containers under pressure, wherein said pressure sensing system comprises a separate pressure sensor for each treatment position of each treatment block.
 38. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising control valves for controlling said controlled fluid paths, wherein said control valves comprise pneumatically actuated valves that are connected to electrically actuated pneumatic valves by control lines.
 39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein, at each treatment position, said control valves controlling said controlled fluid paths are provided separately, and wherein control valves assigned or corresponding to each other are connected to a common pneumatic valve by a control line. 